"History has bypassed (Rose's) transgressions," Reston states. He goes on to argue that Rose's sins seem "trivial" compared with what goes on in baseball today. His argument seems to be it was only second-degree murder, not the premeditated, first-degree kind. But murder is murder.

Rose was managing the Cincinnati Reds when he bet on games he was involved in coaching. Individual cheaters are in baseball's Hall of Fame to be sure, but as a manager, his conduct affected the entire team. Rose should not be inducted and should continue to be held to a higher standard as a former manager.

Dave Mayne; Hilliard, Ohio

Comments from Twitter and Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Pete Rose has served his penance. Time to let bygones roll.

— @TRSkull

Separate Rose's betting as a manager from his accomplishments as a player. Vote him into the Hall of Fame.

— @docktorisin

Because there are new cheaters, we should absolve past cheaters? That makes no sense.

— Mark Bondi

He belongs in the Hall. His accomplishments and stats speak to his natural abilities. People deserve second chances.

— @sfcitygirl72

Letter to the editor:

I commend Reston for his change of mind regarding Pete Rose. The intervening years of doping among high-scoring "superstars" reduce Rose's gambling addiction to almost nothing, especially because no evidence of betting against his own team has ever been produced.

I heartily endorse his placement in the Hall of Fame along with other n'er-do-wells who already have been honored for their place in the history of the game.